The Permanent Secretary, State House, Alhaji Jalal Arabi has defended the 2016 State House budget proposal of N18.1 billion before the National Assembly.
He added that the installations had been in place since the construction of the villa complex in 1992.
“Hence, it has become absolutely necessary to replace the critical ones in view of the sensitive nature of the equipment especially as they affect the security of the Presidential Villa,” he added.
“Several attempts were made in the past to capture same in previous budgets, while much concerted efforts deployed since 2012 but to no avail.”
The Permanent Secretary also disclosed that N699million had been earmarked for the purchase of five CVU cars, 10 each of 33-seater Coaster and Hiace buses and utility pick-up vans.
According to him, the vehicles are essentially needed for the CVU and the main pool for staff movements, and shuttle of visitors into the Presidential Villa in view of the current security situations. “It is in record that there were no purchase/replacement of State House pool vehicles in the State House in the last seven years despite the deteriorating level of most them,’’ he added.
Responding, Chairman, Senate committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Tijjani Kaura, expressed satisfaction at the presentation made by the Permanent Secretary.
Kaura said that the explanation offered on the State House Clinic budget had cleared the air on the misconceptions on the matter.
Chairman House of Representatives committee on special duties, Alhaji Nasiru Zango-Daura also commended Arabi for the details provided in his presentation.
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He assured him that the committee would work on it promptly.
